A pet friendly garden is one in which the plants are good for the pets, either as fun or as shelter items. Here are some suggestions for making your own pet friendly garden.

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Steps

1

Grow plants for your cats. There are several plants that your cats will absolutely adore if you add them to the garden. These include:

Cat grass (Dactylis glomerata) – this is great for chewing on to aid digestion. It is also loved by dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

Lemongrass – the smell intrigues many cats. If you're growing it for yourself, grow another bunch for the cats because they will probably chew it.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – the plant that cats will love to roll in. When dried, it makes excellent stuffing for toys.

Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) – another beloved rolling-in plant. This can also be used dried in cat toys.

Mint family – most members of the mint family entice cats. Mice don't like peppermint though, so this can also help to keep mice away from the garden.

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) – this appeals to many cats. As an added bonus, you can use it to make a flea repellent.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – cats enjoy playing with the foliage and flowers.

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2

Grow swaying sprays of grass. These are idea hiding spots for both cats and dogs and can also be a form of play entertainment for them to swat. Look for grasses that grow in bunches and have fun seed heads.

3

Grow shady trees. Keep all of your pets and your children cool during summer with lovely shaded trees. Shady trees will allow pets to relax under them whenever needed, and cats will enjoy climbing them to escape the dogs and kids.

Avoid any trees that grow poisonous pods, seeds, berries, etc., if you have pets and young children. If you already have these growing, fence them off or pick up fallen berries, etc. regularly.

4

Grow a lawn. Many pets will appreciate at least a small space of well tended lawn. Rabbits and guinea pigs enjoy spending time on a lawn with you nearby, and both cats and dogs enjoy lawn at all times of the day, rolling on it, sleeping on it, and playing on it.

Be careful about the pesticides and fungicides that you add to lawn, as pets and children playing on lawn can easily be infected by whatever you've sprayed onto it.

5

Grow vegetables for your pets. A good crop of carrots and lettuces will keep your rabbits and guinea pigs happy for a long time. Pick regularly and feed to them. You can also cook up vegetables and mash into dog and cat food for added vitamins and nutrition.

6

Grow sunflowers for your birds. Not only are sunflowers beautiful in the garden, but you can take the opportunity to harvest the sunflower seeds and feed them to your pet birds. Simply add them to your bird's usual feeding dish.

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Please be as detailed as possible in your explanation. We will take your detailed information, edit it for clarity and accuracy, and incorporate it into an article that will help thousands of people.Don't say: Eat more fats.Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.

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Tips

Think of making an area of the garden where the pets can enjoy themselves rather than banning them completely. For example, if your dog likes to dig, provide him with a digging space.

Provided you haven't sprayed your weeds, you can also make use of them as feed for pets. Chickweed and dandelions can be fed to budgies, and guinea pigs can be fed dandelions, grass, and clover.

Warnings

Many plants are dangerous for pets if chewed, ingested, or played with. When planning a pet-friendly garden, always research the suitability of the plants you're choosing, as well as assessing the safety of existing plants in the garden. There are plenty of reputable lists available on plants that are and are not pet-safe; ask your vet if you're not sure.

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